Chapter 10 Hunter
Hunter
Scotty Doesn't Know: I thought this was Hunter's phone?
Hunter: Who said this isn’t Hunter?
Scotty Doesn't Know: Ryder calls me Sweetheart.
Scotty Doesn't Know: You call me Little Scotty
Hunter: Aww, look at you already getting to know us.
Scotty Doesn't Know: Shut up. It's not that deep.
Ryder's eyes slid to mine, his left eyebrow inching upward in that judgmental way only he could perfect. "Why did you save her contact as Scotty Doesn't Know?"
"It's a song," I said defensively. "About a guy hooking up with a really hot chick in some old movie. I've never seen it, but the song's catchy as hell."
He stared at me like I had personally offended literature. "You do realize the song is about Scotty, the boyfriend, not knowing his girlfriend is cheating on him with the singer?"
I rolled my eyes. "It still works. Our Scotty doesn't know she belongs with us yet. It's poetic."
"It's idiotic."
"It's cute." I threw back.
"It's stupid."
I shrugged. "Once she figures it out, I'll rename her something classy. Like Future Mrs. Us."
"Idiot," Ryder muttered, his voice carrying all the weight of a feather despite his scowl. He secretly liked my chaos. He just preferred to act morally superior while benefiting from it.
Hunter: You didn't answer Ryder's question, by the way.
Scotty Doesn't Know: Ha! I knew it was Ryder.
Scotty Doesn't Know: And yeah. I have a lot on my mind and no outlet for it.
I licked my lips, already halfway through typing something wildly inappropriate that would either earn me an invitation or a restraining order, when Ryder plucked the phone from my hand like I was about to set something on fire.
"Hey," I protested.
He ignored me and started typing, the tip of his tongue just barely visible between his lips, which was how I knew he was about to say something devastatingly smooth.
Ryder: What's on your mind, Sweetheart?
Scotty Doesn't Know: Wouldn't you like to know, RYDER?
I let out a pained noise and flung my head back like I'd been mortally wounded. "Gods, I love her."
Ryder's mouth twitched, which was practically a standing ovation from him, and I snatched the phone back before he could control the narrative again.
Hunter: Need us to come help you relax?
The three little dots appeared. Disappeared. Reappeared. Almost a full minute passed before the next message came through.
Scotty Doesn't Know: I don't know what I need.
Hunter: We can be there in ten minutes.
"You know, I could just create a group chat so we can both talk to her at the same time instead of playing phone tug-of-war like we're twelve," I said sarcastically.
Scotty Doesn't Know: Dad wouldn't like that.
I handed the phone to Ryder without another word because this was his lane. He read the message once, jaw tightening, then started typing with that slow, deliberate focus he used when he was thinking three steps ahead.
He paused. Deleted something. Typed again. Then he stood up abruptly, phone still in hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" I asked, already halfway to the door.
"To get her."
When we pulled into Coach's street, Ryder told me to park around the corner instead of pulling into the driveway like a normal person. He sent a text, and a reply came almost immediately.
"What's the play?" I asked as I cut the engine.
"Rescue mission. We're helping her escape for the night."
I leaned over and kissed him hard. He blinked at me, slightly flushed. "What was that for?"
"Life would be so fucking boring without you, Ry," I told him honestly. "I love you."
His expression softened immediately. "I love you, too, Hunt. Let's go get our girl."
We walked down the sidewalk, streetlights spaced far enough apart that most of the lawns were shrouded in darkness.
We were almost to Coach's lot when a flash of blue cut across the lawn toward us.
Scotty.
Her cheeks were flushed, her red hair loose and bouncing around her shoulders, and she was giggling like she couldn't quite believe she was doing this.
I was joking earlier when I told Ryder I loved this girl, but seeing her like that, all carefree, reckless and glowing, made my heart beat a little faster in my chest.
It was too soon for 'I love yous', but they were sprinting toward us whether I was ready or not.
"I cannot believe I just did that," she whispered excitedly as she reached us.
Under the streetlight, she looked like a fucking fever dream. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her green eyes bright and daring. For a second, her smile faltered when she looked between us, something uncertain flickering there, but it disappeared just as quickly.
"I feel like I'm back in high school," she said.
"Were you a bad girl in high school?" I asked, sliding an arm around her waist as we turned toward the truck.
She grinned. "Let's just say this isn't the first time I've crawled out of a window."
Ryder made a low sound in his throat that was half growl, half warning. "You better not have been sneaking out to meet other guys, Scotty."
"Uh… no comment?"
"Never again, Omega," he barked, a little of his Alpha command bleeding through. "You're ours now."
She stopped walking and glared at him. "Oh my gods, this was like seven years ago, you caveman. I didn't even know you then." She took a breath and crossed her arms. "Also, I am not yours. Whatever happens tonight is a one-time thing. If that's a problem, I'm going back inside."
She looked at both of us like she was daring us to argue with her.
Ryder opened his mouth, clearly prepared to do exactly that, so I nudged his side sharply and shot him a warning look.
"Ignore him, Little Scotty," I said lightly, offering her my most disarming smile. "We are perfectly happy with the arrangement."
"Like fuck we are—"
I elbowed him harder.
If looks could kill, I would have died on that sidewalk. I held his gaze, trying to tell him without words that pushing her now would blow everything up. That I knew what I was doing. That patience was key.
Ryder had no chill, but after a long pause, he gave me the smallest nod and relief washed through me.
I held out my hand to her. "Come on, let's get out of here so the fun can really begin."
I would be lying if I said I didn't get off on the forbidden aspect of it. The coach's daughter. Ryder's mom marrying her dad. Sneaking her out under streetlights like we were in some cliché teen drama. The thrill of it was intoxicating.
Ryder was wired differently. He didn't see any of that. He just saw what he wanted and refused to back down.
My job was to remind him that good things came to those who wait.
And Scotty was very much worth waiting for.